Treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities

Varicose veins are a scourge of modern humanity. However, often the treatment of varicose veins, the scheme of which is selected individually, is completed successfully. Sometimes the problem is only with therapy and medication, but sometimes the situation is relieved only by surgery. What are the ways to get rid of this unpleasant and serious disease?

Varicose veins - basic information

Varicose veins are a pathological condition characterized by damage to the venous vessels.

The arteries have special valves that act as a kind of closure that prevents blood from flowing downwards (venous blood flows from the bottom up in the legs).

Valve system failure causes blood flow and blockage.As a result of these processes, blood vessels weaken, stretch and deform, unable to cope with increased blood pressure.

The result is a symptom that is familiar to many - bulging veins on the surface of the skin, indicating the dynamic development of this pathology.

The whole trick of the disease is that in the early stages it manifests itself as constant fatigue and heaviness in the legs.

Therefore, many people are not in a hurry to see a doctor, and when blue threads appear on the skin, they begin to signal when the appearance of the legs is disturbed.

Learn more about the symptoms of early varicose veins here.

The reasons for the development of this pathology are very different.These include both congenital anomalies of the vascular system and some provocative factors: sedentary lifestyle, overweight, uncomfortable shoes, professional activity associated with prolonged standing.

The disease is always treated comprehensively.The required scheme is selected by a specialist based on the stage of development of the disease and the individual characteristics of the organism.

Which doctor treats varicose veins?

Varicose veins are not only dilated veins, but also a serious dysfunction of the valves and a circulatory failure that causes serious complications in the body. And if the first symptoms appear - swelling of the arteries, muscle cramps, persistent heaviness in the legs - you should immediately make an appointment with a phlebologist.

Depending on the severity of the case, the causes of the disease and the state of health, the doctor will choose the most appropriate course of treatment from the options available today.

Dangerous Symptoms

The main causes of varicose veins are: heredity, overweight, sedentary lifestyle, sitting or standing, hormonal imbalance in the body. According to statistics, 40% of adult women and 20% of men have symptoms of varicose veins.

A phlebologist is diagnosing the disease, you should contact himif such symptoms occur:

• Weight on legs that worsens towards the end of the day.
• Rapid fatigue of the legs during long walks.
• Pain in the legs.
• Appearance of a thin vascular mesh in the legs.
• Swelling of the legs.
• Seizures that increase the intensity of the night.
• Itching on the skin of the lower extremities.

Graduallysuperficial vascular muscle fiber atrophydevelops, blood vessels dilate, dilate, become curved, and nodules appear above the skin surface. The skin on the dilated vessels becomes bluish-red, dry and hot, and ulcers form due to tissue malnutrition.

Lipodermatosclerosis can develop due to dystrophic changes in the subcutaneous fat layer - a dangerous complication of varicose veins in the legs, which can fail treatment with conservative methods.

To prevent the serious consequences of varicose veins, phlebologists advise patients to start treatmenton timeat the first signs of the disease.

Treatment methods

Sclerosis is the most effective way to inject a special sclerosant into a vein using a syringe with the best needle. The venous lumens are tightened, the edges of the fractures are soldered, and this stops bleeding outside the veins. The substance is absorbed after performing its function.

This method removes all stains and gives excellent cosmetic results. However, after the procedure, it is necessary to maintain the condition of the vessels with additional therapy and wear compression garments.

About 10 years ago, a laser, or rather endovenous laser coagulation, began to be used very successfully in medicine to combat varicose veins. Look at the veins as follows:

1. A small perforation is made in the vein using local anesthesia.
2. An optical fiber is placed in the resulting hole.
3. The laser damages and damages the damaged areas.
4. Then a new piece appears in the sealed area.

The operation does not take place "blindly" - the process is monitored by ultrasound, so there is practically no risk of failure. In addition, the absence of significant incisions excludes painful sensations, bleeding and damage to adjacent tissues.

After the procedure, you should apply a bandage to the affected areas or wear compression stockings and tights.

Radiofrequency ablation is often used and high frequency current successfully treats varicose veins. It goes like this:

1. The vein was punctured.
2. A catheter is inserted into the hole.
3. Radiation enters the vessel through it.
4. The conductor acts at the molecular level by altering the protein molecules of the damaged vessel.

The method allows you to quickly treat all venous nodules and does not require special postoperative therapy.

Methods of treatment of varicose veins

There are two of these: conservative and surgical. The patient is faced with an urgent question: how to treat varicose veins in the legs without surgery. When choosing a method, the doctor takes into account the symptoms, stage of the disease, the presence of complications, concomitant diseases, the patient's age. Non-surgical methods to remove varicose veins of the lower extremities give good results only when the pathological symptoms are still mild.

Help to stop the degradation of the affected vessels:

• drug treatment;
• compression therapy;
• physiotherapy exercises;
• physiotherapy;
• massage;
• traditional medicine prescriptions;
• diet.

Phlebologists try to choose non-drug drugs for the treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities only for patients during pregnancy. First of all, these are compression underwear, gymnastics, physiotherapy, massage, diet. If medications are still needed, only medications for external use are prescribed.

Controversy continues over whether hirudotherapy helps varicose veins. Thickened blood of hirudin, formed by leeches and penetrating the venous system of the lower extremities, is dilute. But today there are many modern drugs that have the same property. In addition, there are risk factors for the use of leeks - vascular infection, allergic reactions.

If necessary, treatment of varicose veins is carried out by radical methods. This is:

• sclerotherapy;
• ozone therapy;
• cryotherapy;
• electrocoagulation;
• laser coagulation;
• surgical intervention.

Sclerotherapy - the injection of a drug into a patient's vein that "sticks" the dilated artery. It stops bleeding and gradually dissolves. The maximum effectiveness of sclerotherapy is achieved in the early stages of the pathology. A similar method is ozone therapy: some of this gas is injected into the lumen of small blood vessels with a syringe, and the blood vessels "stick together. "

Cold is used during cryotherapy procedures. During electrocoagulation, a high-frequency current is applied to the arteries through a very thin electrode. Laser treatment of varicose veins is an effective modern method, especially when used in combination with conservative methods. At the same time, the cosmetic result is high: after a few weeks, the patient leaves no scars or scars.

However, surgery is the most effective treatment that allows you to get rid of varicose veins when drug treatment does not lead to the desired result. The diseased veins are removed through local subcutaneous incisions. After the operation, the foot is tightly bandaged and the patient can walk after three to four hours.

Principles of medical treatment of varicose veins

Effective treatment of varicose veins is possible only if the selected drugs prevent the destruction of pathological development mechanisms, vascular walls and valves.

The main tasks of drug treatment of varicose veins are:

• restoration of blood circulation;
• strengthening of venous walls;
• increased vascular tone;
• reduce blood viscosity;
• prevention of blood clotting;
• normalization of the valve system;
• elimination of inflammatory processes;
• normalization of blood circulation in capillaries.

Medications are indispensable in the complex treatment of the disease.

They are also widely used for prophylactic purposes, which is especially important for people at risk of developing pathology.

To date, there are many drugs for the treatment of varicose veins in the legs, all of which differ in composition and mechanism of action.

consult a doctor

Varicose veins are a serious disease, if treated incorrectly or not, can threaten various complications that are dangerous to human health and life.

Help. Life-threatening vascular thromboembolism, thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers - this is not a complete list of complications of varicose veins that pose a threat to humans.

In this regard, you should not even try to treat yourself.

Experiments at home with the choice of medication can either make the situation worse or ineffective.

In any case, it is a waste of time, health and money.

Therefore, you should contact a phlebologist. To get the maximum benefit for the patient, only a specialist will be able to choose the right medication and establish a treatment regimen.

What medications are used

The complex treatment of varicose veins consists of the simultaneous use of several groups of drugs:

1. Phlebotonics.
2. Anticoagulants.
3. Anti-inflammatory.
4. Fibrinolytics.

In addition,systemic and local remedies are used to enhance the therapeutic effect.

Creams, gels, ointmentsare used as topical preparations. When choosing a preparation for varicose veins and thrombophlebitis, we must not forget that it is the agentin the form of an ointment, which is characterized by the highest content of the active ingredient.

Important!A common contraindication for all topical treatments is a violation of the integrity of the skin.

As a rule, such drugs are applied several times a day, and the product should be rubbed with light movements from bottom to top.

Drug groups and their effects

In the case of venous varicose veins, drugs are classified according to the type of effect onthree main groups:

• venotonic or phlebotropic substances;
• blood thinners (anticoagulants) and drugs that inhibit platelet adhesion (antiplatelets);
• anti-inflammatory drugs.

Studies and medical practice have proven the effectiveness of phlebotonics based on natural flavonoids- diosmin and hesperide. These substances not only protect vascular cells, but also stimulate lymph flow and stabilize the function of capillaries. Concomitant use of mixed drugs containing both flavonoids is particularly effective.

Often phlebotropic agents are taken in courses of2 to 3 months. It is important that the reception coincides with the hot season, when the load on the ships increases due to the high air temperature and the use of large volumes of water. If varicose veins are accompanied by chronic venous insufficiency, phlebotonics are always taken at half the dose.

A patient diagnosed with varicose veinsshould receive systematic treatment in advance to prevent the development of the disease and reduce the likelihood of complications.

The second task is to prevent the formation of thrombotic clots (antiplatelets) by improving the blood thinning properties (anticoagulants) and flow properties.

The formation of blood clots, their separation from the vessel wall, and their movement along the venous bed cause the arteries of the heart, lungs, and human brain to overlap. As a result, the risk of developing a heart attack, pulmonary embolism and ischemic stroke is very high.

Antiaggretes are not used to treat varicose veins, but as a means of preventing serious complications- thrombosis and thrombophlebitis. We can say that these drugs save the patient's life and minimize the risk of disability.

Operation

Removal of damaged vessels of the lower extremities or their parts is carried out by incision or perforation. Removal of diseased vessels in the clinic is necessary in the following cases:

• The veins in the legs were pathologically enlarged;
• skin is affected;
• trophic ulcers appeared;
• Thrombophlebitis worsened.

Surgical treatment of varicose veins of the legs is contraindicated:

• for severe hypertension, coronary artery disease, infectious diseases, eczema;
• if the patient is already old;
• during pregnancy (more than 5 months).

Complementary therapy

In addition to medical and surgical treatment, additional therapy, including a number of measures to normalize blood vessels, is also important:

1. Bending has a relaxing effect, eliminates the feeling of heaviness in the legs. When buying the necessary funds, it should be remembered that hot coatings for varicose veins are contraindicated.
2. Foot baths are another way to help relieve stress on your feet. Using herbs and oils can strengthen blood vessels and get rid of swelling and redness. But the effect will be only with the daily use of the method.
3. Contrast shower. 5-7 minutes every morning for 10 seconds cold and 30 seconds hot (hot water should be avoided) will help keep your arteries in good condition. You can use Alekseev or Charcot showers for this purpose.

Phlebologists often include complex therapy - physiotherapy - laser, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis.

They do not cause discomfort and pain, are cheap and very effective. In addition, treatment is carried out under the supervision of medical professionals. The main condition is to visit the office regularly.

Physiotherapy has a beneficial effect on the condition of the venous walls, muscle tissue and valve function.

Compression therapy is an important part of not only treatment but also prevention and the postoperative period. The use of bandages will avoid stagnant processes, support damaged blood vessels and stop the development of the disease.

Applying a bandage requires a certain amount of knowledge and agility, because excessive pulling can lead to deterioration, and a weak bandage does not give the desired effect. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor for the proper use of dressings.

Massage for varicose veins is not acceptable in all cases, so only a doctor can tell if it is worth using in a particular situation. If the method is chosen correctly, you can feel the result after the first session. This method can improve blood microcirculation, eliminating the main symptoms of the disease, including external symptoms.

The more advanced the disease, the more difficult it is to fight, and sometimes patients come too late, and then there is only one way out - phlebectomy. To prevent this from happening, you do not have to wait for complications, you need to get timely professional help.

Conservative method

In the treatment of varicose veins, phlebologists try to do without unnecessary traumatic operations in the early stages of the disease. For example, this is typical for reticular varicose veins, the manifestation of which is limited to blue venous networks. Medications help to improve the condition of the valves and vessel walls. Men, like women, should wear compression stockings. The pathology cannot be completely cured. However, conservative methods stop the development of varicose veins and prevent complications.

Gymnastics

Sports therapy specialists know how to remove leg veins by doing physiotherapy exercises. This is possible provided that the exercise, which improves blood flow in the legs, is carried out systematically. For example:

1. In the standing position, the heels of the feet are lifted alternately.
2. In the same position, they slowly rise to their feet and descend slowly.
3. Sit in a chair, put your feet back and forth and roll a small ball on the floor.

Wear special clothes

Doctors recommend combining medical treatment of varicose veins with wearing compression underwear - these are products made of a special knitwear that puts pressure (compression) on the veins. The pressure in the walls of the arteries can be adjusted by purchasing products with different degrees of compression.

In general, there are four degrees of compression: the first is used for prevention, the rest are used for treatment. With varicose veins of the lower extremities, tights, socks, knee pads and dusters are worn, the doctor selects the required degree of compression.

Compression underwear creates a tight crushing frame on the legs,which develops the following effects:

• Weakened leg muscles are supported.
• The walls of blood vessels constrict, thus preventing them from stretching.
• Lymph flow and blood circulation are stimulated.
• The recession has been removed.
• The work of venous valves is normalized.
• The load on the dilated vessels is reduced.
• Thrombophlebitis is prevented.

Compression stockings are mandatory for varicose veins after surgery. Underwear prevents the recurrence of the disease, provides additional support to the body during rehabilitation.

Compression sclerotherapy

Compression sclerotherapy is a modern method of treating varicose veins by injecting drugs into the affected veins. As a result, sclerosis (adhesion) of the venous walls occurs, the blood flow to the injection site stops, and the vein gradually dissolves or leaves a thread that does not bother the patient at all, but is not noticeable.

Often sclerotherapy is performed when spider veins are visible, when varicose veins are in the early stages. With the progressive development of varicose veins of the legs, sclerotherapy treatment is carried out after analyzing the condition of the venous valves and vascular walls, the functional characteristics of the patient's circulatory system.

If it is decided to perform compression sclerotherapy, the patient undergoes a blood clotting test, ultrasound examination of blood vessels. During sclerotherapy, the patient does not feel pain, because the drug is injected into the vein using the thinnest needle. After the procedure, a sterile dressing is applied to the application site, and the patient wears a compression garment. In the first week after sclerotherapy, compression stockings should be worn day and night, then allowed to be removed at night.

Positive results of sclerotherapy:

• Restoration of effective blood flow.
• Removal of blood clots in a damaged vessel.
• Prevention of trophic diseases in tissues.
• Elimination of clinical symptoms of varicose veins: edema, convulsions, pain.
• Excellent cosmetic effect due to the complete disappearance of stretch marks.

Diet

Proper nutrition is important for more effective treatment of varicose veins of the legs. Flavonoids, antioxidants, rutinous berries, apples, citrus fruits help to improve the condition of blood vessels. Thinning blood requires a sufficient amount of fluid (1, 5-2 liters) per day. Diet with varicose veins in the legs is not compatible with fatty, fried foods, hot spices, alcohol.

Folk remedies

In the summer, home treatment of varicose veins with folk remedies is especially effective. The following recipes are popular:

1. 15-20 minute leg compresses with tomato paste. Contains high levels of lycopene to actively strengthen blood vessels & prevent blood clotsAt the same time it is useful to eat fresh tomatoes every day.
2. Sweet clover infusion, an indispensable plant for varicose veins: Art. l. The raw material is brewed with two cups of boiling water, stored until cooled, filtered. Drink half a glass 3 times a day, the rest of the volume is used as a lotion.

What not to do

When diagnosing varicose veins, you should pay attention to lifestyle, diet and exercise.Not allowed:

• active physical activity, running, jumping (yoga classes are allowed);
• standing or sitting for long periods of time;
• use of all drugs without consulting a phlebologist;
• Long flights with forced motion of the legs. In addition, at high altitudes, there is a sharp thickening of the blood, which leads to the formation of clots;
• take a hot bath, visit the sauna;
• Bucket and honey massage is strictly forbidden, only medical type massage is allowed.

Possible complications

Trophic ulcersis ​​a complication of varicose veins that manifests itself in the development and deepening of a long-term incurable ulcer. Generally, a separate painful ulcer develops in the lower leg, in which "leakage" is observed in the form of a discharge of serous bloody fluid, which often covers the affected tissues.

Emergency medical care

An ambulance is required if any of the following symptoms occur:

• Increased pain in the affected limb, inability to get out of bed or take several steps;
• The skin of the foot is warm, swollen and firm to the touch.
• Skin color varies from pale to bluish or bluish red;
• Sudden shortness of breath, shortness of breath, sweating and severe weakness;
• Bleeding from the affected skin or varicose veins.

Medications for varicose veins of the lower extremities should be included in the complex treatment regimen.Several courses of phlebotonic and antiplatelet drugs will be required after surgery to prevent possible trophic disorders, inflammation, and disease-related complications.

Multicomponent drugs against varicose veins work together and have several functions. The effectiveness of such drugs is more pronounced.It is optimal to use the course of treatment in the right dose, calculated by a phlebologist, in combination with compression therapy, yoga classes, swimming in the pool, herbal medicines.

Result

Complex treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities involves the use of various therapeutic methods.

In addition to drug treatment, physiotherapy, special exercises, massage, etc. is set.